The unspoken truth about oppression in Native communites by their own governments

Monday, January 16, 2006

Looking At Today...............Part 2

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and Demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and Its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.

"Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

Tecumseh - Shawnee-(1768-1813)

Today............

1. In 1985 women regained their lost native status along with the first generation of children, which was taken from them when they married a non-native man. In 1985 Bill C-31 was passed with little regard to the impact it would have on First Nation Territories within Canada. Things like housing, schooling and small land bases for returning familes were not taken into account and as a result many First Nations have struggled to provide for a population which has doubled with very little increased government funding.

2. First Nations in Canada and Tribes within the U.S. are still among the poorest people in the country. In the year 2000, 700,000 native people in the U.S. lived below the poverty line.

3. First Nations and Tribes in the U.S. start to regain some of their lost languages, traditional customs and ceremonies.

4. In 1990 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimouly that Native Rights were not to be infringed upon by any government (Federal or Provincial) unless there was no reasonable alternative in the "Sparrow" decision.

5. In the U.S. 605 land claims have been forwarded for review, 287 of those claims have been settled and of 139 of those claims $290,000,000 was recovered. In canada 6 major land claim and Self Government agreements have been signed totalling 541,216 sq km and 1 billion 522.67 in monetary settlements.

6. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Native people living off Reserve can now vote in on Reserve elections via the Corbiere decision.

7. Residential School abuse of natives from all over Canada becomes public and a multi-billion dollar lawsuit is filed by the Assembly of First Nations in Canada on behalf of all Residential School survivors. The Federal Government negotiates a deal which is accepted, to pay every survivor still alive $25,000.00, after several years of claiming only those that suffered severe physical or sexual abuse were entitled to compensation.

8. Several Native standoffs take place including, Oka (Quebec) the Quebec Proivincial Police and Army are called in to storm the barricade - one police officer is killed, Gustafan Lake, 3 native men wounded and one killed and Ipperwash Provincial Park - unarmed man named Dudley George was killed by a police sniper who testified in court, while being prosecuted for manslaughter, that George was armed at the time. Police Officer Kenneth Dean was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of George and received only time to be served in the community. Deane lost his job with the Ontario Provincial Police and currently there is a Public Inquiry being held into what role the Provincial Government may have played in ordering police to disband the stand-off.

2 Comments:

I respect your message and more importantly your mission with your personal blog. It is important that the "Unspoken truths" of the world be given the appropriate light that they deserve. When we choose to remain silent, our voices will simply go unheard and will result in continued efforts against a specific cause.

A strong man named Muhatma Ghandi stood up for a valuable cause and led a nation of people. Not once we did he exert any force but he demanded respect and made sure his voice was heard! We can learn a lot from him.

Continue with your cause and stand up for what you believe in and you will have done your duty to your people and to yourself! You have my support.

Thanks for your visit to my motivational blog You Are Success and feel free to swing by anytime.

Yes I have always respected people like Ghandi that have refused to let their voices go unheard. Silence is apporoval: speaking out against injustice is what creates change! Thank You Motivator for your support and for taking the time to read my blog.

About Me

I'm a Mohawk woman from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. A Libra by birth I seek harmony and justice. I am also part of the wolf clan and share a few traits of the wolf such as when I see an injustice I clamp on and don't let go until I see that it has been rectified. I am tenacious and passionate about people and seeking equal justice for all.